Remark against Nehru fetches city couple an FIR

Cuttack/Bhubaneswar: The Commissionerate police on Monday began an investigation into an alleged derogatory remark against former Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru in the visitors’ book of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Birthplace Museum (NBM) in Cuttack.

The police moved in after the Cuttack unit of Congress lodged a complaint against one Pramod Dey and his wife Lopamudra Dey of Bhubaneswar. Pramod, during his visit to the museum, while appreciating Bose’s contribution in India’s independence, had reportedly used derogatory language against India’s first Prime Minister.

“We have filed an FIR against the Dey couple. We demand that they should be booked and punished in the court of law for defaming a national figure,” City Congress president Mohammad Mukim said.

“Based on the complaint, we have formed a team to probe the matter,” Cuttack DCP Sanjeev Arora said.

The matter came to light during the visit of Congress parliamentarian and former Union minister Jairam Ramesh to NBM. After completing his visit, when Ramesh wanted to share his experience in the visitors’ book at the museum, he noticed the remark written by Dey and informed the museum authorities.

Meanwhile, Dey has apologized for his remarks.

“I am extremely sorry for the incident. I had no intention to say anything negative against the first Prime Minister of India. I was a little sentimental after visiting the museum. What I have written in the visitors’ book is completely based on emotion. I will not do it in future,” Dey told OTV over phone.